In this extraordinary article, John Dean lays out the tools available to this Demo controlled Congressto force the Executive Branch into compliance. for further reading, refer to link in the OP..

"The Bush Administration has been reluctant to claim "executive privilege" - given the bad name Nixon gave the use of the privilege. Accordingly, the Administration has on several occasions claimed a "deliberative privilege" - even though no such privilege exists, and it is merely another name for executive privilege.

Often, Congress folds when the president invokes executive privilege, for there is no real judicial remedy (as noted above, courts tend to punt, citing the "political question" doctrine). However, a determined Congress - or committee thereof - can prevail over a recalcitrant president (or vice president) if its members are determined and persistent.

Thus, if the 110th Congress, controlled by the Democrats, fails to get the information it needs -- and the public wants -- about the workings of the Bush/Cheney presidency, it will not be because it does not have the tools with which to obtain that information. Rather, it will be because it lacks the will to use those tools."

"When Congress plays hardball, it gets the information it wants from the president. The Congressional Reference Service (CRS) has prepared a complete manual on oversight, which they updated recently. In the manual, CRS has laid out all Congress needs to know to crack any stonewall Bush and Cheney may erect to block their oversight efforts.

Lou Fisher, one of the authors of the CRS manual, catalogued a number of the methods available to Congress in his essay:

"Congressional Access To Information: Using Legislative Will And Leverage." Drawing on historical examples, Fisher shows that Congress has a host of tools, of various size and shape and depending on the situation, to "extract information from the President."

Together, the manual, the update, and Fisher's excellent article provide an adept guide to everything Congress needs to exercise meaningful oversight as to the Bush Administration - everything, that is except the intestinal fortitude required for winning this staring contest, without blinking."

What Americans want and NEED from a Democratic Congress is.. a FULL restoration of the America we once inhabited.

This IS what Americans voted for and expect nothing less!!!

Our Priorities are:

SAVING THE PLANET, ENDING THE IRAQ WAR, AID FOR KATRINA VICTIMS, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, RESTORATION OF THE CONSTITUTION... for openers. WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN BI-PARTISANSHIP WITH REPUBLICANS!!!

"For that reason, Democrats say that, when they take charge of the new 110th Congress in January, they plan to end the excessive partisanship, with its accompanying paralysis, that has characterized Republican rule..

But ending partisanship, clearly, was not the only message voters sought to send on November 7. Many Democrats ran, and won, on the claim that the Bush Administration was operating unchecked by Congress; that Congressional Republicans refused to exercise oversight of the administration. Early in the campaign, in March 2006, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), along with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), released a joint report to provide Democratic candidates with information showing that the Republican Congress had failed to fulfill its oversight responsibilities. With solid justification, the report labeled Republicans a mere "rubber stamp" for the Bush/Cheney White House, and this theme resonated through many House and Senate races. It was a significant factor in many Democrats' winning their races."

my words:

Ms. Pelosi, a dignified response to the forthcoming Republican outcry would be:

"This DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS is here to repair the damage done by YOUR Republican controlled Congress. The VOTERS have spoken! We are here to carry out the wishes of the American People."

Not entirely convincing, he seems overfond of wandering around in his own abstractions, but I thank you for pointing it out, he also offers an interesting point of view, and some of his arguments I do agree with.

I've had an affinity for John Dean since he was sequestered at my home during the WaterGate Trial.He and his wife were one(sic) of many witnesses my family housed for safe keeping until their testimonywas given at Trial.

If we discard Dean's abstracts down to strategic bare bones. Pelosi has to bring the fight to the Republican majority.

If she falters but for an instant, I fear, we will again be hostages to spineless Democratic demagoguery,lingering indefinitely in the doldrums of hopelessness and despair.

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